Public Safety Director Tracy Bowers, right, stands inside the Super Fresh supermarket on Lyons Avenue with members of the Irvington Police Department and fire Chief Antonio Gary, second from left, on Monday, April 30, during Mayor Tony Vauss’ Small Business Tour, along with U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., New Jersey District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration Alfred Titone and others. Bowers and other members of Irvington’s Police and Fire departments will be out to meet with the public on National Night Out.
IRVINGTON, NJ — Irvington’s government is joining with its Police and Fire divisions to gear up for National Night Out 2018 on Tuesday, Aug. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Civic Square for a local celebration of the nationwide event.
“Thank you to all our sponsors,” said Mayor Tony Vauss on Monday, July 23.
Public Safety Director Tracy Bowers said NNO is designed to bring law enforcement and community members of all ages together in a nonthreatening setting to reinforce the bonds of communication and cooperation. He said criminals are the only people who won’t be welcome at this year’s celebration.
“National Night Out is an annual event where the police and community get to interact with one another and enjoy food, fun, prizes and giveaways,” said Bowers on Monday, July 23. “It’s all in the spirit of developing a positive relationship with them that works both ways. It’s actually an all-hands operation for the township. The mayor has done a tremendous job in planning and assisting in this event. We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy a good evening with us.”
Last year, former Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver was on the campaign trail, running for lieutenant governor on gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy’s Line A ticket, but she stopped by Irvington to participate in the township’s annual NNO event. Now Oliver and Murphy are the lieutenant governor and governor respectively, and no one is ruling out the possibility that one may show up at this year’s event.
Oliver did participate in Vauss’ second inauguration by giving him the oath of office at the ceremony inside Christian Pentecostal Church on Sunday, July 1. Last year, she called herself a “law-and-order candidate” who had “visited National Night Outs all around the state through the years that I have been a legislator.”
“I think it’s also a way for the community to show support for public safety,” said Oliver at Irvington’s NNO 2017 event on Tuesday, Aug. 1. “You see EMTs, you see fire, you see police. It’s a great family kind of an event and you see the same thing replicated in every county.”
Earlier this year, during Vauss’ second Inauguration, she described the mayor as a superhero who protects and serves his township, along with the Municipal Council, Irvington Board of Education, and the rest of the Team Irvington Strong social and political organization.
“He’s an avenger,” said Oliver on Sunday, July 1. “Mayor Vauss, there is no doubt, I think the county executive alluded to it, you’ve had a great four years in your first term, because the day you stepped into office, you coined a phrase: ‘One team one dream.’ And kudos to the Municipal Council, because you stood up with Mayor Vauss and you made a commitment to join Team Irvington Strong and that is why we have had all of the progress in the township of Irvington.”
Bowers said NNO is all about building better bridges between the Irvington Public Safety Department and the residents they protect and serve.
“That’s what it’s all about in law enforcement,” said Bowers on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017. “We need that to create a better environment for ourselves and our children and our residents and people who visit our township and our great state.”
And that’s why, Bowers said, NNO is important.
“We have our annual event, where the people come out and enjoy a great time with the police officers, the community, the fire department and all departments. It’s been a wonderful tradition that we continue to carry out and we love to have an opportunity to interact with the community on a positive note on a positive basis and, as you can see, so many people came out today; women, children, young people, employees — it’s a great time so far,” said Bowers. “National Night Out is important, because it provides an occasion for the community to interact with the police department when it’s not a stressful time. It’s a time where it’s fun and the cops and the community can both let their hair down and enjoy themselves and the festivities and activities and such.”
For more information about NNO 2018, call Sgt. Sheyla Zepeda at 973-416-5730.
Irvington gearing up to host National Night Out 2018 added by Chris Sykes on
View all posts by Chris Sykes →